Here Comes January

 And just like that, winter break is nearly over.  Teachers' thoughts start turning towards planning for January and that first day back from vacation.

It's the New Year!
I like to welcome the children back from winter break with a day celebrating New Years!  We make hats or crowns to wear in class.  I update this resource yearly to reflect the upcoming year.

We read and learn about New Year's Resolutions.  We listen to Squirrel's New Year's Resolution read aloud on YouTube.  

Then we discuss our resolutions and write about them.

We also integrate our New Year's studies into math and social studies.

You can check out this PAID resource by clicking on any of the pictures above.

Celebrate Martin Luther King
To go along with our Martin Luther King studies in January, we make this peace dove craft.  It's super simple, using only 1 paper plate per student.  It's also a hands-on introduction to fractions 1/2 and 1/4.  After studying about MLK, the students write about a dream they have for the future.  Then they make this peace dove, and we display it in the hallway.  We usually have parent conferences during January, so it's a good opportunity to display the students' writing and fine motor skills as well.  Check out this FREE by clicking on the picture below.

Paragraph Writing

We spent the first part of the year learning to write complete sentences, including using capital letters and end marks.  Now it's time to learn how to put those thoughts together in a 3 to 5 sentence paragraph.  Our goal for the end of the year is a 5 sentence paragraph with a main idea sentence, 3 supporting details, and a concluding sentence.  To give the children a guided scaffold they can use while learning this writing format, I introduce them to paragraph puzzles.  While using these puzzles, we focus on the writing vocabulary of main idea, supporting details, and concluding sentence.  For the first week, we work through organizing the pieces to create a cohesive paragraph together.  In the following weeks, the children put the puzzle together themselves as part of their independent seat work.  

Click here to see this PAID resource

Celebrate the Epiphany

Finally, Epiphany is Friday, January 6.  Epiphany is the official end of the Christmas Season in the Catholic Church, when the Three Wise Men visit the baby Jesus and give their gifts.  Use this great resource to help your students learn more about Epiphany.

Welcome back!  

Getting Back into the Groove

Here it is, Saturday evening, and I survived my first two days back to school. I'm glad to have them behind me so that we can now settle into our routine again.

Thanks to TPT and the many fabulous activities posted there, we had a smooth transition back. I used my "Read and Write about My New Year's Resolution"  packet in language arts class.

I was amazed by some of the resolutions the kids made, like practice more to become a better swimmer and become a better dancer and get my yellow belt in karate.  They really understood the idea of making a resolution to change or improve something.  The resolution magnets are waiting to be laminated, and the the kids will take them home.

As with most of my projects, it took two days to get through the activities. I should know if I plan for one day, it will take my kids two. (Of course, we did have shortened periods on Friday because of mass in the morning.)

You can get the eSource (for free) by clicking on the picture below.  If you'd rather contribute to my family's finances,  you can buy the packet from my TPT store. (ha, ha)

In math, I'm using the fabulous freebie Cynthia Vautrot had in the newsletter last week, "Happy New Year Countdown." 

My kids have completed the ordering the numbers from greatest to least activity and the place value sort.  Since I teach first, I had to modify the approach a bit.  I couldn't use them as independent centers, but I did use them as guided learning lessons.  First I demonstrated on the SMARTBoard, then the kids partnered up to work on the worksheets.  They were so excited to be doing 2d grade work!  If you missed the freebie in the newsletter, click the picture above to visit Cynthia's store.

Yay! We did it!

540, 526, 581 -- that's not right!

I hope your first few days back go (or went) as smoothly as mine did!

I have a new mega -- and I mean MEGA -- giveaway for you to enter.  Renee over at Fantastic First Grade Froggies has five different prize packets to give away.  My offering is in packet #3, "The Long and Short of It, O Sound." Just click on the button below to head on over to her blog and take your chances in her giveaway.

Good luck to any who enter!